Police investigate injuries to baby

A police and Child, Youth and Family investigation is
underway after a 9-month-old Rotorua baby suffered serious
injuries, including head injuries.

The baby is in a serious but stable condition in Starship
Hospital.

A police spokeswoman said an ambulance was called to a
Korimako St house in Selwyn Heights about 6.15pm on Friday
after a family member went to a neighbour for help. The baby
was initially taken to Rotorua Hospital but was later flown
to Auckland's Starship Hospital.

The police spokeswoman said the child was in the care of
extended family at the time.

Rotorua police and Child, Youth and Family are currently
investigating how the injuries happened and are liaising
closely with medical experts. No arrests have been made.

Although it was yet to be determined how the child received
the injuries, Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters said he was sad to
hear another Rotorua child had suffered injuries.

Mr Winters started a Rotorua Safe Families campaign in the
wake of the murder of Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie, who died
in 2007 after months of abuse by family members, including
being spun in a clothes dryer and thrown on her head during
wrestling games.

Her death sparked outrage around the country and was the
catalyst for the Government's White Paper on Vulnerable
Children, released late last year. Mr Winters said Rotorua
had been chosen to pilot the Government's child abuse
programme.

"It's an issue that we have got to get to grips with as a
community."

He said police and support agencies were working hard to keep
children safe but it was also down to the community.

"It takes a village to raise a kid. Everybody has to be
vigilant, they are the eyes and ears of the community," he
said.